Apparatus and Method for Holding Articles During Activity

ABSTRACT

An apparatus allows for holding articles at an appendage, for example, the thigh, of the user, allowing the user to move unrestrained, unimpaired and unobstructed. The apparatus allows the user to hold numerous and important articles on their person during numerous physical and athletic activities, such as jogging, exercising, or walking.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims priority from commonly owned U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/060,069, entitled: Apparatus and Method for Holding Articles During Activity, filed on Jun. 9, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed subject matter relates to methods and apparatus to hold and carry articles while performing every day activities, as well as other physical activities, such as jogging, hiking, power walking, etc., particularly along a user's thigh, in a manner that does not interfere with the user's movement.

BACKGROUND

People often spend their time outdoors, both for work and recreation. While they are outdoors, they may want or need to carry and hold certain articles. Examples of such articles include coins, paper money, keys, credit cards, snacks, water bottles, etc. Runners frequently take small radios and MP3 players with them. However, holding these articles during routine, as well as during athletic and other physical activities, without impairing motion or activity performance, has proved to be challenging.

Clothes have pockets to facilitate the holding and carrying of such articles, however, many clothes have only a few or no pockets. Putting too may articles in pockets of clothes interferes with the wearer's ability to walk, run and perform other tasks. A few shoes also have pockets, but articles carried in such pockets are restricted in size because of the small dimensions of these pockets. Generally, the wearer can only fit things like keys and key chains, small bills and a few coins in shoe pockets.

SUMMARY

The subject matter disclosed presently overcomes the problems of contemporary art by providing an apparatus capable of holding and carrying multiple items of sizes larger than a user (for example, a human male or female) could carry around with conventional devices. The disclosed subject matter accomplishes this by providing an apparatus for holding articles at the appendage, for example, the thigh, of the user, allowing the user to move unrestrained, unimpaired and unobstructed, to allow for an increased number of activities, such as jogging, exercising, or walking, while having important articles on their person.

An embodiment is directed to an apparatus for holding articles on an appendage, for example, the thigh. The apparatus includes a base conformable to the shape of the appendage, at least one pocket on a first side of the base, a first member for attachment to a first portion of a user, and, at least one second member for attachment to the appendage. The first member may be a belt, suitable to fit around the waist of the user, while the second members are straps, that may be elastic and/or adjustable, to fit around the appendage, such as the thigh, of the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Attention is now directed to the drawings where corresponding or like numerals or characters indicate corresponding or like components. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 2 is a front view of an apparatus similar to the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of an apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the apparatus of FIG. 3 in an exemplary operation; and

FIGS. 5A and 5B are illustrations of an alternate apparatus of the disclosed subject matter in an exemplary operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED SUBJECT MATTER

FIG. 1 shows apparatus 20 in accordance with disclosed subject matter. The apparatus 20 includes a base member 22 of a material such as cloth, plastic or the like, in single or multiple sheets attached by sewing, stitches, adhesives and the like. The apparatus 20 may also include a bendable backing or backing sheet of cloth, plastic or the like, for being bent or curved around the appendage such that the apparatus 20 conforms to the shape of appendage (for example, the thigh), on which it is being worn. A belt 24, with a closure 26 (FIG. 3), for example, a plastic snap-together buckle formed of a female part 27 a and a male part 27 b, is attached to the top portion 22 a of base member 22. The belt 24 can also be closed by hook and loop material, such as VELCRO® at the ends of the belt 24, one or more loops at the end of the belt 24, or other belt closure. The belt 24 secures the apparatus 20 at or proximate to the waist of the user (for example, a human male or female). The belt 24 is, for example, of web or an elastic material, and may be attached to the base 22 by stitches, sewing, adhesives, or the like.

At least one strap 30 is present proximately at the bottom of 22 b or the lower portion of base member 22. The strap 30 provides the means to attach the apparatus 20 to a thigh of the user. Additional straps, for example strap, 32, may also be attached towards the middle portion 22 m of base 22 to provide supplementary support for attachment to the thigh of the user. The straps 30, 32, at their ends, may be joined by standard closures, 30 a, 32 a, for example, frictional closures, buckles, one or more loops, VELCRO®, or may simply be tied together. The straps 30, 32 are, for example, of an elastic material, to fit snugly to the appendage, and in some instances, assist in conforming the base 22 to the curvature of the appendage to which it is placed on. The straps 30, 32 are attached to the base 22, for example, by stitches, sewing, adhesives, or the like. Alternately, the straps 30, 32 may be made of non-elastic materials, and may be adjustable.

The base 22 includes numerous support members such as pockets 40, 42 and 44. The pockets 40, 42, 44, and portions thereof, may be, for example, fabric, cloth, plastic, mesh, and the like, and may be elasticized or partially elasticized, if desired, and attached to the base 22 by sewing, stitches, adhesives and the like. While three pockets 40, 42, 44 are shown, these are exemplary only, as numerous pockets of variable configurations, dimensions, materials and closures are also permissible on the base 22, to support and accommodate various articles. For example, the base 22 is configured to conform or adapt to the curvature and/or shape (contour) of the thigh or other appendage on which the apparatus 20 is being worn, and remain within the dimensions of the thigh or appendage. This allows for unrestrained and unobstructed movement of the thigh or other appendage.

For example, the pocket 40 may be formed of a flexible cover member 40 a and may include an opening 40 b. There may be a flap type closure, with a snap or VELCRO® attachment, or a closure may not be present. The pocket 40 may shaped and dimensioned to accommodate articles, such as, radios, MP3 players or iPods® 40 x, etc., cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), pagers, and the like. The opening 40 b, for example, allows access to inside the pocket 40, for cords 45 a and the like, for example, of headphones 45 b, that allows for the connections of the headphones 45 b to the device (for example, the iPOD® 40 x) in the pocket 40.

The pocket 42 is formed of an outer member 42 a, closed by a zipper 42 b, or other closure, such as VELCRO®, buttons snaps or the like. The pocket 42 is sized and dimensioned so as to accommodate credit cards, pass cards, identity cards like driver's licenses, monetary bills and coins, that are small and typically require heightened security, hence the zipper 42 b as the closure. The pocket 42 may also hold, cellular telephones, pagers, radios and music players, PDAs, and the like.

A larger bottom pocket 44 may be, for example, a fold-over pocket over an elasticized mesh like member, for example, with one or more VELCRO® closures, shaped and dimensioned so as to be suitable to hold bottles, flasks (for example, a crescent shaped curved flask) and containers 47 for liquid and the like. The pocket 44 may also include an opening 44 a suitable for the neck of the container to be placed therethrough. The opening is formed in a flap 44 a′ that attaches to a body flap 44 b that forms the pocket 44.

FIG. 2 shows an apparatus 20′ similar to apparatus 20 (with similar components having the same numbers), except that the lower pocket 44 of the apparatus 20 has been replaced with a holder 50, for a water bottle 52 or the like, a ring 54, and a clip 56. The holder 50 is, for example, formed of the materials listed above for the pockets 40, 42, 44. The holder 50 may be a sleeve-like member, cylindrical in shape, that is collapsible and foldable, and is attached to the base 22 by sewing, stitching adhesives or the like, to define an area for holding the water bottle 52 or other cylindrical or tubular object. The ring 54 may be a key ring or the like, while the clip 56 is for other objects and articles to attach thereto.

FIG. 3 shows an apparatus 120 in accordance with another embodiment. Similar components to those of the apparatus 20 have the same numbers in the 100's, and are in accordance with the descriptions above for the apparatus 20. The apparatus 120 is similar to apparatus 20, but has a base 122 which is slightly longer than base 22 of apparatus 20. The base 122 attaches with a belt 124, suitable for attachment at a human waist, that is closed by a closure 126 of cooperating closure members 127 a, 127 b.

The pockets 140, 142, 144 are present, and there is an additional pocket 146, with a pocket member 146 a, and closed, for example, by a zipper 146 b, or other closure, such as VELCRO®, snaps, buttons or the like. Additionally, the base 122 itself may be formed of overlapping sheets 122 x, 122 y (also shown in FIG. 4), as detailed above, joined along their peripheries, by the joining structures and techniques detailed above, to form large internal pocket, for accommodating flat bills, passports and the like, closed by a zipper 148 (or other closure such as, VELCRO®, snaps, buttons or the like), positioned, for example, proximate to or along a peripheral edge 149 of the base 122.

FIG. 4 shows the apparatus 120 as worn by a user 180 such that the belt 124 is closed around the waist 182 and the straps 130 and 132 are closed around the thigh 184. This allows the user 180 to move in a manner undisturbed by the apparatus 120 and/or the items held therein.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show another apparatus 220, similar to apparatus 20, 120 as worn on a user 180′, with similar components to those of apparatus 20, 120, numbered in the 200's. The base 222 is similar to the base 22, shown and described above for apparatus 20, but is attached to the belt 224 (closed by a closure 226) by straps 252 in the front (FIG. 5A) and rear (FIG. 5B). The straps 252 are similar to the straps 30, 32 as detailed above, except that they are attached to the belt 224 and the base 222, with these attachments by stitches, sewing, adhesives or the like. Alternately, while the attachment of the straps 252 to the base 222 may be fixed, as detailed above, the attachment of the straps 252 at the base 222 and/or the belt 224 may also be with adjustable mechanisms, such as loops, frictional closures or the like, allowing for the position of the base 222 with respect to the belt 224 to be adjusted by the user, to the desired position on or along the appendage. One strap 230 or more additional straps, similar to straps 30 and 32, for securement to the thigh 184 or other appendage, are also permissible.

While the apparatus 20, 20′, 120, 220 are shown for use on the thigh, the apparatus 20, 20′, 120, 220 may also be used on other appendages (and modified for the appendage where necessary). These appendages may include, for example, the lower leg, upper or lower arm, or trunk.

While preferred embodiments of the disclosed subject matter have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed subject matter. Accordingly, the disclosed subject matter is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

1. An apparatus for holding articles on an appendage comprising: a base conformable to the shape of the appendage; at least one mechanism on the base for holding an object; a first member in communication with the base for attachment to a first portion of a user; and at least one second member in communication with the base for attachment to the appendage of the user.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first member includes a belt for fitting around the waist of the user.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one second member includes at least one strap.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one second member includes a plurality of straps.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the belt is attached to the base.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2, additionally comprising: at least one strap for attaching to the belt and the base.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanism for holding an object includes at least one pocket.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanism for holding an object is selected from the group consisting of pockets, cylindrical sleeves, key chains and clips.
 9. A method for holding an article during activity comprising: providing an apparatus for holding articles on an appendage comprising: a base conformable to the shape of the appendage; at least one mechanism on the base for holding an object; a first member in communication with the base for attachment to a first portion of a user; and at least one second member in communication with the base for attachment to the appendage of the user; attaching the first member at the waist of the user; and attaching the at least one second member to the appendage of the user.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the appendage includes a thigh.
 11. The method of claim 9, additionally comprising: placing an article into the holding mechanism.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the user is a human. 